Despite his defeat to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 305, Israel Adesanya reportedly earned a higher payout than the reigning champion.
The bout, held at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, saw Du Plessis defend his UFC Middleweight Championship for the first time, winning by submission in the fourth round.
The fight, a historic first-ever UFC title clash between two African fighters, generated significant financial rewards for both competitors.
According to The Sportster, Adesanya, a former two-time middleweight champion, was guaranteed $750,000, while Du Plessis received $500,000.
With additional earnings from pay-per-view sales, both fighters are expected to earn seven figures, though Adesanya’s share is anticipated to be higher due to his established status in the sport.
Before the fight, Du Plessis made headlines with his claim of being the “first real African UFC champion,” a comment perceived by Adesanya as an affront to previous African titleholders like himself, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou, who no longer reside on the continent.
After his victory, Du Plessis apologized, calling Adesanya a legend and clarifying that he did not intend to disrespect his opponent’s African heritage.
UFC 305 also featured notable payouts for other fighters.
In the co-main event, Kai Kara-France earned a $50,000 bonus in addition to his $300,000 base pay for his first-round knockout of Steve Erceg, who received $75,000.
Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot each secured $50,000 bonuses on top of their base pays of $350,000 and $110,000, respectively, for their exciting lightweight bout.
